Electric switch.



3. SACHS ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION mm DEC. 19. 1am.

1,292,081 Patented Jun. 21, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

W yEil far A f fur/12g 1. SACHS.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLlCATlON FILED DEC-19,1916.

1,292,081. Patented Jan. 21,1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

JOSEPH SACHS, 0F HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 21, 1919.

Application filed December 19, 1916. Serial No. 137,781.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JosnPH SACHS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful "Improvements in Electric Switches, of which the following is a speci fication.

This invention relates to electric switches. While the improvements are susceptible to general application in this art, at least one of the features thereof is of particular utility when employed in connection with a scalable incased or boxed switch. As to this particular feature I provide means of an effective and inexpensive character for looking the switch in one of its positions which in the present case is the open position when the box is sealed.

In certain types of switches it is common to provide a plurality of connectors or switching members and an actuator therefor, the actuator being supported independently of the connectors or switching mem bers. In these old forms the relation be tween the connectors or switching members is such that the switching members are not always brought into proper engagement with the cooperating contacts, by reason of which improper electrical connection follows when the switch is in the closed position. I provide a construction wherein this diiiiculty is eliminated.

In the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification I have shown in detail one of the many convenient forms of embodiment of the invention which I will set forth'fully in the following de scription. I do not limit myself to this construction; I may depart therefrom in several respects within the scope of the invention defined by the claims following said description.

Referring to said drawings:

Figure l is a front elevation of an incased or boxed electrical switch involving the invention with the cover swung down to show the interior.

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are longitudinal sections of the device shown in Fig. 1 on the line 23, looking in the direction of the arrow and showing the parts in diderent positions, the cover being closed in Figs. 2 and 3 and partly open in Fig. 4:.

Figs. 5 and 6 are detail views in plan and side elevation of a coupling member for like parts particular form of appliance,

suitable base as 2, generally of porcelain or some suitable insulating substance. This base or its equivalent is equipped with a plurality of connectors. I have only shown two denoted by 3 and 4 respectively. These connectors are of blade type. The number of connectors and their character does not concern the invention. The connectors or switching members as shown are pivotally supported by contacts as 5 of clip kind, these contacts pivotally receiving between their lips the connectors or switching members. The contacts 5 are provided with the necessary wire connecting means and are stationarily held to the base in some convenient manner as common in the art. The connectors or switching members may be either plain or fused, and when fused, the fuses may be of any desirable nature. I have shown them as plain or unfused but have illustrated the base 2 as equipped with fuses 6 of the well-known Edison plug type, and these are also provided with connecting means so as to be properly electrically connectible in circuit with the switching members or connectors 3 and 4. In addition to the contacts 5 there are complemental contacts as 7 which may be considered as rupturing contacts. These contacts 7 are also stationary upon the base 2 as familiar and each receives between its lips the rupturing portion of its cooperative connector or switching'member as 3 and 4. The stationary contacts cooperative with each of the connectors are provided with suitable circuit wire connecting means.

In conjunction with connectors or switching members, of which those denoted by 3 and 4 are merely one of several different examples, I provide an actuator or switch op erating member which is related with the connectors or switching members in a highly novel and advantageous way. It is old in the to provide a plurality of connectors and a crossbar or crosshead, to which these connectors are rigidly mechanically united. Where each of the connectors serves in aseparate pole the crosshead or crossbar is usually made of insulating material, so that while mechanically united, the separate or individual connectors still remain electrically separate. It is usual to provide means difliculties in bringing about such as a handle mechanically secured or attached to the crosshead or forming a part thereof whereby said switch may be manipulated, and where a separate actuator is employed, the crosshead and the actuator are usually connected mechanically by some means extending from the crosshead to the actuator. In the present construction I eliminate or dispense entirely with this crosshead or crossbar and its inherent defects and roper alinement of the connectors mechanically secured tothe crosshead and the stationary ruptur ing end contacts into which the rupturing portions of the connectors are received.

I provide a construction wherein although the connectors or switching members are coupled together for simultaneous closing and opening movement, yet there is provision for individual or independent movement; that is to say each connector-or switching member is adapted to have a certain amount of free movement with respect to its operating element of whatever nature the same may be, the result being that the connectors when moved in either direction automatically aline themselves with their rupturing portion contact into and out of which they are moved, so that I remove the drawbacks to which I have alluded. This peculiar condition I secure in the organization shown, by proper couplings between the connectors or switching members and their actuator in such way as to interfere in no wise with the movement of the switching members or connectors with the actuator, yet still permitting individual automatic or self-alining action by providing for instance, between each of the connectors and the actuator, an individual coup-ling. It should be understood that as to this particular phase of the invention, the switch may be either boxed or unboxed.

I will describe an actuator and a coupling between each connector and actuator which has been found satisfactory, but as will be clear I 3.111111 no sense restricted thereto. Such an actuator is that denoted in a general way by 8. This actuator as shown comprises a bail-like part 9 and a handle as 10. The sides of the bail or yoke-like part are provided with outwardly extending pivots or gudgeons as 11 extending through perforations in the side walls of the box or casing 12 to the back or bottom of which the insulating base 2 already described, is suitably afi'ixed. One of the pivots or gudgeons 11 connects the bail or yoke-like part 9 and v handle 10. This handle serves as a conven- I as 15 and 16 both alike, and one such as the coupler 15 being shown in detail in Figs.

4 5 and 6. It is understood that the connector or bladein said Figs. 5 and 6 is that denoted by 3. These couplers are advantageously of insulating material, such as fiber. Each is preferably flat and comprises a shank as 17 and a hook as 18, the shank being united in some convenient manner as by a rivet 19 with its individual connector at some suitable point which may be at or near the rupturing portion thereof. It is not essential that the rivets 19 should rigidly unite the couplers 15 and 16 with the connectors 3 and 4, although this is desirable where the hook arrangement of the coupler is used, because be of any desirable nature.

this hook arrangement provides for individual movement of the connectors. In other words I provide broadly for the mechanical connection of the connectors with the actuator, and I provide for a certain amount of individual or free movement of each of the connectors or switching members in a direction lateral or sidewise of their opening or closing movement. This particular action I secure in the present case by providing for a free orloose connection between the actuator and the hook portion 18 of the couplers. It will be noted that the body or operating portion 13 of the bail part of the actuator 8 fits loosely in the open slots 20 of the hook portions 18 of the two couplers 15 and 16, by reason of which the two connectors can individually move laterally or in a direction crosswise or transverse of their opening and closing movements. In

the present showing the connectors are rigidly connected with the couplers and the couplers are loosely connected with the actuator, but clearly this condition could be reversed, because as will be understood, the invention does not concern itself with any detail, although the construction I have particularly described is advantageous. In some cases both connections might be loose, so long as each coupler is held at all times in proper mechanical operating relationship with the actuator and the respective switching member. In Fig. 1 the switch there shown is in the closed circuited position. To

open the switch the handle or manipulating portion 10 will be grasped and ulled down to the position shown for instance at the right in Fig. 2, this through the intermediate parts causing the movement of the connectors 3 and 4 from betweenthe lips of the rupturing contacts 7. To close the switch the action described is reversed, and owing to the peculiar connection between the two connectors 3 and 4 and the actuator, the said connectors or switching members individually automatically and'precisely aline themselves when they enter between the lips of said two rupturing contacts 7.

It is desirable that means of a positive nature should be provided for arresting the actuator when the switch has been opened or after the actuator has made a predetermined movement. It is also desirable where the switch serves for certain purposes, to positively lock it in the open position and to maintain this open circuited locked positiOn of the switch. This latter point is of particular utility when the switch is incased in a box, cabinet or casing which may be sealed, so that after having been latched or locked in the open circuited position, access thereto is prevented, due to said sealing of the cabinet or housing in which it is incased, and thus the open circuit condition of the switch may be maintained until changed by authorized persons or until the seal is broken.

As will be understood there is preferably stop means and locking means, and although these may be entirely separate and distinct, I prefer as a matter of simplicity and reduction in cost of manufacture, to provide them on the same member, this member as a consequence serving a dual function, that'is as a means for locking the switch in a definlte position and also as a stop for arresting the motion of the switch in a predetermined direction. In the present case this locker is a lock-off device which is a desirable construction, but to which I am in no sense restricted. There is another point to which I wish to direct attention and that is the fact that I provide a locker for positively holding a I switch in a certain position in conjunction with a sealable cover or equivalent sealable member for holding this locker in its switchlocking relation whatever that may be. A. member such as meets these two conditions in a satisfactory way is that denoted by 25. This stop and locker member 25 as shown is in the form of a practically flat plate pivoted for example as at 26 to one of the side walls of the body of the cabinet or box 12 interiorly thereof. As shown'the cover 27 of the cabinet or box 12 is of pivoted or hinged type which is a common form in this art. This combined locking and stop member 25 is constructed as illustrated with two laterally extending tongues or fingers 28 and 29 or fingers 28 and 29, the tongue 29 in the present case acting for this purpose, presents a suitable stop for arresting the motion of the switch when being moved to the open position, and this is accomplished by the adjacent side of the bail-likefiparts 9 engaging or abuttin against the nger 29 when the switch has een given the predetermined opening "movement as shown for instance in the lower dotted line position in Fig. 2 wherein the bail-like part has encountered said finger 29 to have the movement of the actuator arrested. It will be understood at this time of course, that the part 25 is functioning merely to arrest or stop the switch after the same has completed a predetermined opening movement. One of the edges as the edge 30 of the part 25 cooperates in the construction shown with the cover 27 to maintain said part 25 in a fixed position whereby it can exercise the two functions.

This edge 30 as illustrated is straight, although this may not always be necessary. It is fashioned thus in the present case to coact with the similarly formed adjacent inner surface of the cover 27 when the latter is closed as shown for instance in Figs. 2 and 3, at which point said ed e or face 30 is contiguous to the inner sur ace of the cover, so that the latter will act as an effective means to prevent movement of the part 25 and thus maintain the latter in position to serve either of the functions stated. It will be clear, therefore, thatbefore the part 25 can be operated, it is necessary that the cover 27 be opened. I have thus far described in detail merely the arresting or stopping effect of the part 25. It will be assumed that it is desired to lock the switch in a predetermined position as shown the open position. In this event, it will be necessary to open the cover 27 assumed to be sealed, and naturally the seal will have to be cut. When the seal is ruptured, the cover will be opened as shown partly in Fig. 4. When the cover is opened, the part 25 will be swung forwardly on its axis to carry the finger 29 free of the path of opening movement of the adjacent side of the bail-like part 9. The switch may be now opened, and when it is moved to the requisite extent or the relation it should occupy to be locked in said open relation, the member or plate 25 is swung to its original position, so that the fingers 28 and 29 will be caused to straddle or embrace the adjacent side of the bail-like part 9 as shown in Fig. 3. When this is done the cover will be closed and sealed as by the seal denoted in a general way by 35. It will be seen on inspection of Figs. 2, 3 and i that the center of the movement of the member 25 is situated between the ends of the edge or face 30, the consequence being that when the cover 27 is closed swinging movement of said part 25 in either direction is positively reventedby the cover. This point is furilier accented in Fig. 4 wherein the cover is shown as partly opened and which indicates that this action or something of an equivalent character must be taken before the position ofthe part can be changed.

Attention is directed to the peculiar con struction of my locker which in this instance also serves as a stop, by reason of which itis possible to properly arrange the arts in the locked relation and also to at al times provide means for the stoppin or arresting of the switch movement whet er the cover is closed or open. This is accomplished by reason of the locker with its stopping functioning being independent in action of the cover. i

What I claim is:

1. An electric switch comprising a box, a switching member in the box, an actuator for the switching member, accessible exteriorily of the box, a locker in the box for locking the switching member in a predetermined position, the box having a cover and the locker being inaccessible when the cover is closed and supported independently of the cover, and meansfor preventing switch releasing movement'of the locker as long as the cover is closed.

2. A switch comprising a box and its cover, a switching member in the box, an actuator for the switching member accessible exteriorly of the box, a locker for locking the switching member in predetermined position, said locker being inaccessible when the cover of the box is closed and said cover when closed holding'said locker in its operative position, the locker having a movement independent of the movement of the cover.

3. A switch comprising a box, a switching member within the box, an actuator for the switching member accessible 'exteriorly of the box and whereby said switching member may be moved to open or closed circuit positions, a locker within the box settable to lock the switching member and its actuator in predetermined position, said locker being mounted for movement independent of the cover and settable independently of the cover, the cover when in the closed position holding said locker in set position.

4. In an electric switch a box, a switching member in the box provided with an actuator therefor, a locker in the box for locking the switching member in a predetermined position, the box having a cover, the locker being movable to switch-member locking position when the cover is open, and the cover when closed holding the locker in said looking position.

5. A switch comprising a box and its cover, a movable switching member within the box, an actuator for the switching member supported by the box and accessible exteriorly thereof, a locker supported by the box and independently of the cover, said locker being movable to lock the actuator in predetermined position, the locker being positioned to be held in set relation when said cover is closed.

6.' An electric switch comprising a switching member and an actuator for the switching member, and. an element provided with means to coact directly with the actuator to lock the switching member in a predetermined position and. also directly cooperative with the actuator to stop the opening movement of the actuator at a predetermined point.

7. The combination with an electric switch including a movable switching mem-v ber and its actuator, of a unitary element dual-functioning for locking the switch in predetermined position and for arresting the movement of the switch at a predeterle position, the element being supported independently of the cover but cooperative with said cover so that when said cover is closed the element is held in set position, said element being provided with means when in said set position to serve for looking or arresting the movement of the switching member and its actuator.

10. In an electric switch a box, a switching member in the box, an actuator sup-.

ported by the box and accessible externally thereof, .for operating the switching member, a locker supported in the box and provided with means to engage the actuator when the switch is open to maintain said relation, the box having a cover, the locker having a movement independently of the cover and the cover when closed holding the locker in position to maintain the switch open.

11. In an electric switch a box, a-movable switching member within the box, a switch element operating actuator supported by and accessible eXteriorly or": the box, a combined lock-0d and stop element supported by and inside of the box but independently of the cover, said combined element having means to hold the actuator in the or position and also to arrest the movement of said actuator dependent upon the setting of said combined element with relation to said actuator.

12. A switch comprising a plurality of switching members, a switch operating actuator, and connections between the switching members and the actuator for causing simultaneous opening and closing movements of the switching members and at the same time permitting individual and independent movements thereof, the switching members and the actuator being supported for movement independently of each other.

13. A switch comprising a plurality of switching members, a switch operating actuator, couplers uniting each individual switching member with the actuator for individual lateral movement of the switching members with relation to the actuator, the actuator and the switchin members being supported independently or each other.

14. In an electric switch a plurality of independently supported switching me; bers each having a cooperative stationary rupturing portion contact, a switch operating actuator, and a coupler directly indi- Y vidually connecting a switching member with the switch operating actuator so as to permit the switching member when moved into and out of engagement with its rupture portion contact to aline and position itself for free and unhindered movement into and out of said contact, the switching members and the actuator being supported independently of each other.

15. In an electric switch a plurality of movable switching members each being inpendently supported and cotiperative with a rupture portion stationary contact and being also provided with an individual coupler for mechanical association of said switching element with a switch operating actuator in such a manner that each individual switching member while movable into or out of engagement with said stationary contact by the actuator is free to properly aline and seat itself into said contact when so moved, the switching members and the actuator being supported independently of each other.

16. In an electric switch a plurality of independently pivotally supported switching members, each cooperative with its respective rupturing portion stationary contact, a switch operating actuator pivotally supported substantially in almement with the pivotal support of the switching memhere, each switching member being provided with its individual and independent coupler mechanically associating each of the respective switching members directly with the switch operating actuator whereby said switching members may be moved by said actuator into'and out of engagement with said stationary contact by direct connection with said actuator, the switching members and the actuator being supported independently or each other.

17. In an electric switch a plurality of independently pivotally mounted switching members each cotiperative with its respective rupturing portion stationary contacts and provided with its individual coupler, each of the switching members and their respective associated couplers being mechanically independent and disconnected, and a switch operating actuator pivotally supported substantially in alinement with the pivotal supports of said switching members and formed for mechanical association with said couplers for thus by means of the actuator moving in unison the plurality of individually supported and mechanically disassociated switching members into and out of engagement with their respective stationary contacts the switching members and the actuator being supported independently of each other.

18. in an electric switch a plurality of individually pivotally supported switching members, each cooperative with its respective stationary rupture portion contact and each provided with its individual coupler associated therewith at a distance from the pivotal point, and a switch operating actuator pivotally supported independently of the switching elements but substantially coaxial with the pivotal supports of said switching members, each of said couplers associated with its respective individual switching member being formed for engagement with said actuator and whereby said switching members are moved by said actuator in unison into and out of engagement with their res ective stationa contacts the individually independent switching members being otherwise except through said actuator entirely independent of each other.

19. In an electric switch a plurality of individually pivotally mounted switching members, each cooperative with its respective rupturing portion stationary contact and each provided with a separate and independent insulating coupler, and a switch operating actuator pivotally supported for movement approximately about the same axes as the switchingmembers, said couplers and said actuator being adapted for mechanical engagement for thus by the movement or the actuator correspondingly moving the switching members, and the switching members being each entirely mechanirec 1,292,081.-J0seph 5 20. In an electric switch a plurality of individually pivotally supported switching members and their cooperative rupture portion stationary contacts, each of said switching members being individually provided with an insulating coupler joined thereto by a fixed connection and each of said couplers being provided with a portion for individually loosely engaging each of said switching members with an actuator.

21. In an electric switch, a plurality of individually pivotally supported switching members and their respective cooperative rupture portion stationary contacts, a swinging actuator approximately coaxial with the switching members, individual couplers as- DnsonmME'R, Sachs, Hartford, Conn. E

uary 21, 1919, I v F ire Arms Mamtfactumng 00.,

'sociated mechanically by a fixed connection with each switching member independently JOSEPH SACHS.

Witnesses:

L. L. MARKFL, Hmm SUTHERLAND.

nnc'rmo SWIa'CH; Patentdated Jan- Disclaimer filed August 1, 1928, by the patentee, Colts Patent a Corporation,

consenting to and ratifying this disclaimer in so far as its interest in the aforesaid patent may appear. 2

Hereby enters this disclaimer as follows: He hereby disclaims all switches of the ch 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, and 21 except be d wherein each'connection or coupl V the swltchmg mem rs an fixedly secured to its swltchmg member and- 1s member and the actuator is rigidly and aracter described in claims 12,13, 14, 15, those wherein-the actuator extends transversel of er between a switc ing provided with an open slot or receiving the actuator]? [Ofiicz'al Gazette August 21, 1928.] 

